Eco warehouse fitted out

12 December 2012

New distribution centre on course to be
one of the first commercial buildings to
receive a BRE Environmental Assessment
method (Breeam) excellent rating for
energy efficiency
Continuing a 15-year history of providing

New distribution centre on course to be
one of the first commercial buildings to
receive a BRE Environmental Assessment
method (Breeam) excellent rating for
energy efficiency

Continuing a 15-year history of providing East Anglian
brewer, retailer and hotel chain, Adnams Dexion was the
automatic choice when it came to choosing a provider to
re-fit its eco-distribution centre in Southwold, Suffolk.

Dexion had previously provided Adnams with a wide aisle
racking system for the warehouse, on the site where they have
been operating in Southwold, Suffolk, for over 100 years.

However when Adnams decided to consolidate their
warehousing facilities, more space was required at Southwold,
Dexion then suggested Stronglock Narrow Aisle (NA) Pallet
racking and provided Adnams with a turnkey operation that
included design, manufacture and installation. This refit also had
to be conducted while the warehouse still operated, but was
completed on schedule with little or no disruption to normal
warehouse operations.

Adnams eco-distribution centre is a large, single-storey
warehouse with associated loading and storage areas measuring
approximately 4,400m2. It is situated within a disused gravel pit
set in 85 acres of grassland. The gravel pit offers thermal
stability because it is below ground level, and the surrounding
wildlife park shields the building from view and minimises the
impact of noise and light. The walls are built from blocks made
out of lime, quarry waste and hemp, all locally sourced, which
have excellent mechanical, insulating and environmental
qualities. The insulation is a loose mix of hemp and lime.

Lime/hemp construction has considerable environmental
benefits. The distribution centre is on course to be one of the
first commercial buildings to receive a BRE Environmental
Assessment method (Breeam) 'excellent' rating for energy
efficiency.

Dexion conducted an in-depth survey of the site and then
submitted detailed CAD drawings to Adnams' consultant Charles
Anderson. To maximise the space available, Dexion suggested
the NA racking configuration, which could be operated in
conjunction with articulated trucks, this would enable Adnams
to carry out an efficient pick, pack and distribution operation.

The racking system, designed to accommodate 1,600 pallets
weighing approximately 1,000kg, comprises of 6.3m and 7.65m
high frames to fit the changing curved roofline.

Dexion's Stronglock Narrow Aisle Racking makes optimum
use of the floor area and warehouse height (up to 12m high),
while still permitting individual access to all pallets. It combines
the speed of throughput and access to individual pallets of
Adjustable Pallet Racking but with increased use of the cubic
space available.

Anderson says: "Dexion has always provided us with a firstrate
service. As the second installation needed to be completed
within a tight schedule and we also needed to ensure that the
facility could operate at the same time, we knew that Dexion had
the expertise and experience to deliver our business needs."
"Dexion's customised Narrow Aisle racking system has
increased storage space utilisation whilst enabling easy and
efficient picking", says Andrew Brook, warehouse manager at
Adnams. "The system is working really efficiently and has
enabled us to deliver
improved distribution levels."